Yakov Kasman, DMA, and Kristine Hurst-Wasjzczuk, DMA
Performances by students, faculty and guest musicians will be presented this spring by the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Department of Music.
The Department of Music, in the College of Arts and Sciences, presents recitals and concerts each fall and spring semester. Many of the performances are free and open to the public.
Purchase tickets now for the UAB Piano Series performance March 24 featuring sisters Esther Park and Sun-A Park performing as Amadeae Duo.
Most performances are held in the Hulsey Center for the Arts’ Mary Culp Hulsey Recital Hall and UAB’s Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center.
For the latest information about performances, check the UAB Campus Calendar, contact the UAB Department of Music at 205-934-7376 or visit uab.edu/music.
Upcoming performances include:
Saturday, Feb. 3
UAB Department of Music studio recital: Caroline East, clarinet, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Free.
Sunday, Feb. 4
UAB Department of Music senior recital: Jackson Burkett, trumpet, 3 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Free.
Tuesday, Feb. 6
Alabama Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster & Friends: Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet including UAB Distinguished Professor of Music Yakov Kasman, piano, and Kathleen Costello, clarinet, 7:30 p.m. Brock Recital Hall, Samford University. Tickets $29; student tickets $12.
Thursday, Feb. 8
UAB Department of Music and AEIVA present Chamber Music at AEIVA, 6 p.m., Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts. For spring 2024 Chamber Music at AEIVA will complement the exhibits of artists Andy Warhol and Amanda Ross-Ho. The theme will be “Authenticity,” and will feature music by Kal Opperman, Gustav Mahler, John Cage, George Benson, Louis Armstrong and more. Performers include clarinetist Denise Gainey, pianist Yakov Kasman, soprano Kristine Hurst-Wasjzczuk, the UAB Percussion Ensemble led by Gene Fambrough, saxophonist Reginald Jackson, and a jazz combo featuring Steve Roberts, Carlos Pino and Abe Becker. This concert is curated by Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk. Free.
Friday, Feb. 9
UAB Department of Music Trumpet Symposium faculty recital, 8 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Featuring guest clinicians, UAB trumpet faculty and UAB student ensembles. Free.
Monday, Feb. 12
UAB Department of Music lecture and performance: Gioel Martin, guitarist, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Free.
Reginald Jackson, Ph.D.Tuesday, Feb. 13
UAB Department of Music faculty recital, “Soulful Celebration,” featuring Reginald Jackson, piano and saxophone, and Gioel Martin, guitar, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Free.
Wednesday, Feb. 21
UAB Department of Music student recital, 12:20 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. A performance showcase from students. Free.
Saturday, Feb. 24
UAB Department of Music faculty recital: Patrick Evans, baritone, and Yakov Kasman, piano, 5 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Featuring the music of Mozart, Fauré, Duparc, Poulenc and Mahler and a torch song marathon. Free.
Sunday, Feb. 25
UAB Department of Music Wind Symphony and Symphony Band concert, 7 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall. This concert will feature new and exciting music of the modern wind band repertoire. Sean Murray and Cara Morantz, directors. Free.
Sunday, March 3
UAB Department of Music Clarinet Symposium final concert, 2 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall. Free.
Tuesday, March 5
Canceled and to be rescheduled: UAB Department of Music faculty recital: “My Favorite Things,” Denise Gainey, clarinet, and Yakov Kasman, piano, 7 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Reynolds-Kirschbaum Concert Hall. An evening of music by Widor, Reade, Weiner, Poulenc and Mendelssohn. Assisted by Kathleen Costello, clarinet. Free.
Tuesday, March 19
UAB Department of Music studio recital: Matt Barron, clarinet, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Free.
Wednesday, March 20
UAB Department of Music student recital, 12:20 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. A performance showcase from music students. Free.
Wednesday, March 20
UAB Department of Music senior recital: Haleigh Black, violin, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Free.
Friday, March 22
UAB Department of Music senior recital: Christina Oliver, clarinet, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Free.
Sisters Esther Park and Sun-A Park will perform as the Amadeae Duo.
Sunday, March 24
UAB Department of Music Piano Series featuring Esther Park and Sun-A Park, piano, 4 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Reynolds-Kirschbaum Concert Hall. Sisters and pianists Esther Park and Sun-A Park will perform as the Amadeae Duo. Their program, “Americana,” will feature the music of three American composers, Judith Lang, Samuel Barber and George Gershwin, culminating their performance with “Rhapsody in Blue.” Tickets are $15, $5 for students through grade 12 and UAB employees; free to UAB students.
Tuesday, March 26
UAB Department of Music senior recital: Sarah Williams, trumpet, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Free.
Wednesday, March 27
UAB Department of Music student recital, 12:20 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. A performance showcase from music students. Free.
New date and time: Saturday, March 30
UAB Department of Music studio recital: Jackson Hanle, baritone-bass, 2 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Free.
Saturday, March 30
UAB Department of Music Jazz Summit finale concert, 3 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center,Sirote Theater. Featured artist/clinicians will be UAB alumnus Kevin Leon and Chad Fisher, UAB adjunct music faculty, both members of the band St. Paul and the Broken Bones. Free.
Monday, April 1
UAB Department of Music fifth annual PRISM Concert, 7 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall. This all-department concert features faculty and student solo and ensemble performances from classical and gospel to jazz and computer music, and everything in between. Tickets are $25, $15 for UAB employees and free for students.
Tuesday, April 2
UAB Department of Music Jazz Combos and Guitar Ensemble concert, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Steve Roberts, Carlos Pino and Maria Bitran, directors. Free.
Wednesday, April 3
UAB Department of Music Jazz Ensemble concert, 7:30 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Sirote Theatre. Steve Roberts, director. Free.
Thursday, April 4
UAB Department of Music Spring Brass Ensembles concert, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. A concert featuring brass chamber groups including Trumpet Ensembles I and II, Horn Choir, Trombone Choir, Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, and the Steel City Brass Quintet. Free.
New date: Friday, April 5
UAB Department of Music honors recital, 7 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Reynolds-Kirschbaum Concert Hall. Free.
Saturday, April 6
UAB Department of Music faculty recital: Won Cho, bass, and Chris Steele, piano, present “Musica Sacra: A Recital of Sacred Vocal Music,” 4 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Reynolds-Kirschbaum Concert Hall. Free.
Denise Gainey, DMA, and Yakov Kasman, DMASunday, April 7
UAB Department of Music faculty recital: “Reclaiming Degenerate Art: Music of Jewish Composers." Join the Department of Music for this moving and uplifting multi-media concert. Soprano Kristine Hurst-Wajszczuk will present her annual faculty solo recital, with Yakov Kasman (piano), Denise Gainey (clarinet) and Alabama Symphony Orchestra Concert Master Daniel Szasz (violin). The program features music by Mendelssohn, G. Mahler, new arrangements of Yiddish folk songs, three Yiddish songs by Ullmann, and cabaret songs by Schoenberg. During the 1930s and 40s, the Nazis banned and often confiscated art created by Jews, calling it “degenerate.” This recital reclaims that art and includes music considered unallowable in the concert hall during that bleak period. Many Jewish composers fled Europe; others were not so lucky. Ullmann composed the songs that will be performed while he was imprisoned at Terezin; he was murdered at Auschwitz in 1944. This recital will include projected translations and artwork by artists such as Picasso, Chagall, Beckman, Dalí and Klee, as well as contemporary pieces by Jewish-Russian artist Alexander Rokhlin. 2 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Reynolds-Kirschbaum Concert Hall. Free.
Monday, April 8
UAB Department of Music Percussion Ensemble concert, 7 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall. Gene Fambrough, director. Free.
Tuesday, April 9
UAB Department of Music senior recital: Austin Green, tenor, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Free.
Thursday, April 11
UAB Department of Music Young Performing Artist Program Recital: Mary Elisa Wagner, piano, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Free.
Friday, April 12
UAB Department of Music Spring Choral Concert: Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, 6 p.m., Highlands United Methodist. Brian Kittredge and Elizabeth Fisher, directors. Free.
Mary Elisa WagnerSaturday, April 13
UAB Chamber Trio premiere, “The Courage Lies Within You,” 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. “The Courage Lies Within You” is a collaboration between the UAB Department of Music and the UAB Department of History. The multimedia presentation of 11 new works commissioned by the UAB Chamber Trio is interspersed with short films produced by the students of Assistant Professor Michele Forman. The subjects of these new works and films are noteworthy historical figures from Alabama’s recent past. The UAB Chamber Trio is Denise Gainey, clarinet, James Zingara, trumpet, and Chris Steele, piano. Free.
Sunday, April 14
UAB Department of Music Piano Studio/Piano Ensembles concert, 4 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Yakov Kasman and Tatiana Kasman, directors. Free.
Sunday, April 14
UAB Department of Music Wind Symphony and Symphony Band concert, 7 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall. Featuring new and exciting music of the modern wind band repertoire. Sean Murray and Cara Morantz, directors. Free.
Monday, April 15
UAB Gospel Choir concert, 7 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Jemison Concert Hall. Reginald Jackson, director. Tickets are $10, free for UAB students. Call 205-975-2787.
UAB Concert ChoirWednesday, April 17
UAB Computer Music Ensemble concert, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Matthew Scott Phillips, director. Free.
Thursday, April 18
UAB Department of Music Young Performing Artist Program recital: Elizabeth Chojnacki, piano, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Free.
Friday, April 19
UAB Opera presents “Gisela in her Bathtub” by Neil Weisensel and “Trial by Jury” by Gilbert and Sullivan, 7:30 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Sirote Theatre. Tickets are $15, $10 for UAB employees and senior citizens, and free for UAB and other college and high school students. Call 205-975-2787.
Saturday, April 20
UAB Opera presents “Gisela in her Bathtub” by Neil Weisensel and “Trial by Jury” by Gilbert and Sullivan, 2:30 p.m., UAB’s Alys Stephens Center, Sirote Theatre. Tickets are $15, $10 for UAB employees and senior citizens, and free for UAB and other college and high school students. Call 205-975-2787.
Saturday, April 20
UAB Department of Music Chamber Percussion Ensemble in concert, 7 p.m., Hulsey Recital Hall, 950 13th St. South. Gene Fambrough, director. Free.